Reliability qualification of optical connectors

Field data collection is a foundation of ecological research, but it can be challenging and error‐prone. Researchers planning and undertaking fieldwork for the first time are especially vulnerable to logistical issues that can be avoided with more guidance. We offer guidelines to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of field data collection. Our guidance takes the prospective field ecologist through five steps: (1) identifying which variables should be recorded (focusing on your scientific question, but considering opportunities for additional data collection); (2) designing the data structure (understanding data structure, assigning useful IDs and avoiding confusing characters); (3) preparing a data collection protocol (building in redundancy, choosing a data collection technology, clean data recording and taking additional notes); (4) undertaking a pilot test (including data collection and digitising, communicating with the team); (5) following the protocol (assigning a decision‐maker, noting any changes, following routines and backing up data). This article is motivated by our own trial‐and‐error experiences and those of our colleagues and students, and a desire to help future researchers to avoid them. Our intention is to streamline the planning and field stages of data collection to avoid common pitfalls, thereby saving money, time and resources and supporting the whole data life cycle. Field data collection occurs across disciplines looking to understand the natural world, and each field excursion poses its own unique challenges. However, these guidelines can be useful as a starter for researchers to support open, reproducible, efficient and effective field data collection.

Abstract. Georeferenced field data collection has become a popular practice allowing everyone to contribute to mapping objects or reporting events. The spread of mobile devices - capable of recording and sharing location coordinates, media and features while on the go - is primarily accountable for such diffusion. Accordingly, a number of mobile apps and software frameworks have been developed and released to perform field data collection. These frameworks allow to customize and dispatch collection forms as well as to manage contributors and records through web interfaces or database management systems. From the contributors’ perspective, specific mobile client apps need to be installed to access selectively the collection forms and contribute to the data collection on the field using their mobile devices. This operation might inhibit the sporadic contribution of occasional users who may not be willing to install additional software. To overcome this limitation, this work presents the Geo Collector Bot, an alternative software toolkit to empower field data collection projects avoiding the development and/or the installation of a specific mobile app on contributors’ devices. The Geo Collector Bot is a configurable Telegram-based chatbot enabling to dispatch of data collection forms that can be activated and filled in through Telegram chats. The ultimate goal of the presented work is to provide an alternative free and open-source software framework suitable for general-purpose field data collection applications. Development patterns and system architecture are described in detail alongside future improvements and outlooks for the Geo Collector Bot project.

Qualification of conductive adhesives for photovoltaic application - accelerated ageing tests

Abstract: The accelerated aging test is widely used to evaluate the vigor of soybean seeds. Currently, the methodology recommended in the literature is to set up the germination test at most one hour after the seed aging process, which makes it difficult to set up and evaluate a large number of samples. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of delay in setting up the germination test after the process of accelerated aging of soybean seeds, specifically its effect on seed physiological performance. We tested three seed lots of the soybean cultivars BRS 397, BRS 399 RR, BRS 1007 IPRO, BRS 1010 IPRO, and BRS 388, all within the standards required for commercialization. The seed lots were physiologically characterized by evaluation of moisture content, germination, seedling vigor classification, tetrazolium test (viability and vigor) and accelerated aging test. The treatments consisted of hours (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) of delay in setting up the germination test after accelerated aging. A delay of up to eight hours in setting up the germination test after the accelerated aging process of soybean seeds has no direct relationship with the result of assessment of the physiological performance of the seed lot.

Field data collection in veterinary and animal behaviour science often faces practical limitations, including time constraints, restricted resources, and difficulties integrating high-quality data capture into real-world clinical workflows. This paper highlights the need for flexible, efficient, and standardised digital solutions that facilitate the collection of multimodal behavioural data in real-world settings. We present a case example using PetsDataLab, a novel cloud-based, “no code” platform designed to enable researchers to create customized apps for efficient and standardised data collection tailored to the behavioural domain, facilitating capture of diverse data types, including video, images, and contextual metadata. We used the platform to develop an app supporting the creation of the Dog Pain Database, a novel comprehensive resource aimed at advancing research on behaviour-based pain indicators in dogs. Using the app, we created a large-scale, structured dataset of dogs with clinically diagnosed conditions expected to be associated with pain and discomfort, including demographic, medical, and pain-related information, alongside high-quality video recordings for future behavioural analyses. To evaluate the app’s usability and its potential for future broader deployment, 14 veterinary professionals tested the app and provided structured feedback via a questionnaire. Results indicated strong usability and clarity, although agreement with using the app in daily clinic life was lower among external testers, pointing to possible barriers to routine integration. This proof-of-concept case study demonstrates the potential of cloud-based platforms like PetsDataLab to bridge research and practice by enabling scalable, standardised, and clinically compatible behavioural data collection. While developed for veterinary pain research, the approach is broadly applicable across behavioural science and supports open science principles through structured, reusable, and interoperable data collection.

Field data collection can be expensive, time consuming, and difficult; insightful research requires statistical analyses supported by sufficient data. Pilot studies and power analysis provide guidance on sampling design but can be challenging to perform, as ecologists increasingly collect multiple types of data over different scales. Despite a growing simulation literature, it remains unclear how to appropriately design data collection for many complex projects. Approaches that seek to achieve realism in decision-making contexts, such as management strategy evaluation and virtual ecologist simulations, can help. For a relatively complex analysis, we develop and demonstrate a flexible simulation approach that informs what data are needed and how long those data will take to collect, under realistic fieldwork constraints. We simulated data collection and analysis under different constraint scenarios that varied in deterministic (field trip length, travel, and measurement times) and stochastic (species detection and occupancy rates and inclement weather) features. In our case study, we fit plant height data to a multispecies, three-parameter, nonlinear growth model. We tested how the simulated data sets, based on the varying constraint scenarios, affected the model fit (parameter bias, uncertainty, and capture rate). Species prevalence in the field exerted a stronger influence on the data sets and downstream model performance than deterministic aspects such as travel times. When species detection and occupancy were not considered, the field time needed to collect an adequate data set was underestimated by 40%. Simulations can assist in refining fieldwork design, estimating field costs, and incorporating uncertainties into project planning. We argue that combining data collection, analysis, and decision-making processes in a flexible virtual setting can help address many of the decisions that field ecologists face when designing field-based research.

<p>Taking Jinjiang Wudian City Tourism Cultural and Creative Industrial Park as the research object, we use the case study method to explore the intelligent management system design scheme of the tourism cultural and creative industrial park, and through field interviews, data collection, data coding and result analysis, we deeply analyze the tourism cultural and creative industrial park in Jinjiang Wudian City. Through the methods of field interviews, data collection, coding and result analysis, we analyze the management subjects and components of the management mode of Wudian City Tourism and Creative Industry Park in Jinjiang and identify its existing management mode. On this basis, it embeds technical elements of wisdom tourism, subdivides wisdom management composition modules of tourism cultural and creative industrial park, and finally forms a complete wisdom tourism management system of tourism cultural and creative industrial park.</p>

Effective data collection is vital for research, especially in Malaysia's electrical and electronics (E&E) manufacturing sector, which significantly impacts the economy. This study investigates challenges faced during field data collection of a pilot study, including accessibility, respondents’ location, and confidentiality concerns. It highlights the importance of diverse engagement strategies, such as employee referrals and HR support, to enhance data reliability. Recommendations include leveraging HR support and broadening respondents’ selection. Addressing these challenges can improve human capital development and capability building in the industry. Future research should focus on refining data collection methodologies in the manufacturing sector.

Many satellite, airborne, and in situ observations have been made to better understand the mass balance of the ice sheets. Satellite missions such as GRACE, ICESat, and Cryosat provide broad coverage, but are only capable of collecting data at relatively coarse temporal and spatial resolutions [7] [8]. Satellite observations alone are not sufficient to fully understand all mechanisms responsible for changes in the overall ice sheet mass balance. While these are sufficient over much of the interior of the ice sheet, to understand and model the dynamics of fast flowing glaciers and the margins of the ice sheet, finer resolution data are required. Airborne platforms, especially autonomous platforms, allow for key regions of the ice sheets to be measured with fine-resolution remote sensing instruments. These platforms provide more accurate ice thickness estimates, internal layer mapping, and ice-bedrock interface imaging [2]. To address this gap in the observations, we are designing and developing an instrumentation suite to be deployed on crewed and uncrewed aircrafts. Here we will focus on two radars in the instrumentation suite: an accumulation radar and a radar altimeter. The altimeter will be capable of measuring surface elevation and near-surface internal layers to a depth of about 10 m. The accumulation radar will be capable of measuring internal layers to a depth of about 100 m. A previously developed 150 MHz radar depth sounder/imager will be used to map layers below 100 m, as well as the ice-bedrock interface. This radar is beyond the scope of this paper. Field data collection using these systems will be performed simultaneously, providing a fine-resolution characterization of the ice sheet from surface to bedrock. The altimeter provides annual and short-term information on the accumulation, while the accumulation radar provides information on the decadal scale variability. The depth sounder provides information on the century scale variability. Initial data collection occurred during the early spring 2009 Greenland field season; additional data collection will continue during future campaigns both in Greenland and Antarctica. System refinements will allow for this suite to be deployed on uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), also being developed at the Center for Remote Sensing (CReSIS) at the University of Kansas.

Mucn wa Maputz: she who dances in Maputz, translating Changana into English. Mucn means (s)he who performs contemporary dance (CD). Maputz is the geographic space: contemporary dance places and places in between in Maputo, Mozambique, Africa. Maputo is our destination and in here, readers will find a map and instructions for a sensory drive (drift) through theaters, rehearsal rooms, and trajectories in an exercise of performative writing that brings them back to their own body moving through a contemporary urban space, through a certain Africa. The purpose of this thesis is to study, from experience, the ethnographic method riveted in the artistic practice of contemporary dance. To narrate and describe those experiences that allow us to comprehend the method. It is thus, a study of the method, a methodology conceptually related to research in artistic practices This thesis is meant to contribute to the current effort of developing research methodologies in Dance. Through anthropology, the founding discipline of ethnography, a design was drawn up of the method that defines an insider's, albeit foreigner's, perspective (Davida, 2012), which brings to question: 1. Which procedures, techniques, and tools are involved in data collection and field opening? 2. What data will the dancer-researcher observe? 3. Which somatic data will appear in the ethnography of dance and, especially, the shape they will take in annotations and their impact on the course of my reflection? 4. How does the method behave in the process of choreographic creation? I present a methodological mounting initiated three years before onsite fieldwork and speak in terms of an ethnographic experiment that spans over the creation of the experimental situation (a contemporary dance artistic residency in Maputo), the methodological design that guided data collection, and the idea of preparatory procedures (scoping study; report on talk repertory; anxiolytic for methodological anxiety; continuation of the artistic practicedance training, scenic experiments, cultivation of the choreographic garden, pedagogical development; record operationalization). I explore writing as a meta-dance I describe aspects of the experiment in Maputo. The Maputz, the field data collection, takes shape. The methodological dismounting looks into the warping procedures: 1. Document collection; 2. Interviews; 3. Participant observation; and 4. Records. Although the experiment revealed other subjacent, fundamental procedures weaving our field, Participant observation (training practices, creation, and diffusion in contemporary dance) and annotations privileging enriched daily writing are focused. The text explores different styles, but particularly highlights five Creative Analytical Practices Ethnography Finally, two ideas to deal with ethnographic data: 1. A heuristic Among my conclusions, I acknowledge that It's not the ant that rides on horseback. It is the horse that takes the ant. At the end of the text, readers will know more on contemporary dance in general and Maputo in particular.

The conventional deposition of mine tailings as a slurry will likely result in seepage, with the potential to contaminate surface and groundwater, particularly during deposition, and possibly post-closure. In a dry climate, tailings deposition can be cycled, excess supernatant water can be collected and stored elsewhere, and excess water can largely be evaporated. On closure, tailings stored in a dry climate may remain desiccated to the extent that incidental rainfall will not result in continued seepage to the environment. It was postulated that if the tailings were to be allowed to desiccate for a sufficiently long time period, rainfall events will not infiltrate the full depth of the desiccated tailings and reform a hydraulic connection with the groundwater table, resulting in negligible risk of seepage post-closure. Any rainfall that re-wets the upper tailings layers would re-evaporate. The purpose of any cover would then be to limit dust and promote some vegetation, rather than to shed rainfall runoff. To provide supporting information for the selection of appropriate closure design criteria, and to provide information relating to the unsaturated behaviour of tailings during deposition and desiccation cycles, a trial tailings cell at a mine in arid Western Australia has been instrumented with moisture and suction sensors located on towers placed prior to tailings deposition. The monitoring data collected over a period of 2 years suggest the following: b Rapid desiccation of the tailings and the foundation occurs following the cessation of tailings deposition. b Rapid wetting-up of the desiccated tailings occurs during the deposition of fresh tailings, with surficial wetting-up of the tailings during rainfall events. b The majority of the considerable surplus water evaporates. b The saturated and unsaturated states can be directly linked to deposition and desiccation cycles. b An unsaturated state is maintained during rainfall events that occur during desiccation periods. Following the collection of field data, a column experiment was carried out at The University of Queensland (UQ) under controlled conditions to provide information relating to the saturation and desiccation of tailings placed in layers, and allow a numerical model to be calibrated. The data collected during the column experiment indicated similar responses to the field data, with rapid desiccation of the tailings and the foundation following the cessation of tailings deposition, and then rapid wetting-up of the desiccated tailings occurs during the deposition of fresh tailings, with surficial wetting-up of the tailings during rainfall events. Numerical modelling has been carried out to identify the ponding depth required to cause infiltration through the full depth of the desiccated tailings column. The numerical model was developed using field and laboratory data, including site and laboratory climate data. The numerical results indicate that, provided a surficial suction of 100 kPa or more is achieved, the tailings are likely to mimic a store and release cover system for surface water ponding depths up to about 500 mm (modelled to result from rainfall in one day and representing about twice the average annual rainfall for the site; hence very much a worst case). Rainfall events causing greater depths of surface ponding than 500 mm may need to be considered in the design of closure measures, if the agreed closure criteria include consideration of the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP). Based on the work presented in this Thesis, the author recommends that the upper surface of the tailings studied in their dry climatic setting be regraded to spread the temporary retention of rainwater on the upper surfaces of the Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) to facilitate loss to evaporation. Terracing the upper surface to optimise evaporation would be advantageous, with the aim of limiting the depth of surface ponding to no more than 500 mm. To accommodate large, yet infrequent, rainfall events, specific locations should be identified to allow for additional rainfall collected on the surface to overflow into purpose-built drop structures, releasing the excess rain water to the natural environment.n

Performance requirements project is the good of the products, who reached the cost and time in the possible lower of the plan.An approach to condition of ideal performance evaluation done as in the construction of the building type b1 ((basement area youth hall)). With one is a methods used in the management of the cost and time intregity. Methods to research is earned value analysis with data collection in field in building construction project type b1 ((basement area youth hall)). The data used in this method is, time schedule the budget costs and. weekly progress reportsFrom the data and produce values bcwp bcws and predict the time the end of the project. Building construction project type b1 (( basement area youth hall )) having evaluation. later when the end of the projectIn evaluating the performance of the cost of this project had surpluses the cost of the value of the contract (cost overrun) while in evaluating the performance of the project accelerated schedule where implementation schedule faster of the project schedule ( schedule underrun ) estimated to be completed during the day calendar 539.

Japanese Shorthorn bulls have been selected based on a selection index after performance test, and based on independent culling levels after progeny test. A scheme was proposed for genetic evaluation of bulls using economic weights equivalent to desired gains of the traits measured in performance and progeny tests. The genetic parameters of six traits measured in performance and progeny tests were estimated. Using the parameters, the breeding values of the six traits on each bull were evaluated. Two breeding goals, A and B, were assigned. The breeding goal A was to restore 1.0 of beef marbling standard (BMS number) keeping daily gain in progeny test constant. The breeding goal B was to restore 1.0 of BMS number without any restriction on the other traits. Two sets of weighting factors for the selection indices were calculated to realize the relative desired gains of the six traits for reaching the breeding goals A and B. The indices consisted of phenotypic values of the six traits. Using the two sets of weighting factors, two sets of relative desired gains to reach the goal A and B were transformed into two sets of relative economic weights for the six traits. The selections with Smith and Hazel type selection indices based on the economic weights are expected to bring us approximately equivalent relative genetic gains of the six traits to the relative desired gains to reach the breeding goals A and B. The economic weights make it possible to estimate the aggregate genotype of each bull. The sequential selections based on an aggregate genotype of bulls will result in consistent genetic improvement targeting a same breeding goal. All the testing stations of Japanese Shorthorn have been adopted the aggregate genotype for goal A as selection criterion in 1999. The future subject on the data collection in field was discussed.

The reliability, cost and performance of electrical connectors are a concern in all types of electrical systems, and demands on connectors used on photovoltaic (PV) systems include that connectors maintain electrical conductivity and physical strength, endure ultraviolet sunlight and high ambient temperature, and resist moisture and chemical intrusion over a very long (>25 year) performance period. Connector failures increase operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and reduce plant production, but connector failure can also cause safety and liability problems, which are of greater concern. This work results from a three-year collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) under Agreements #39035 and #38531 "Connector Reliability Across the US Solar Sector." a multi-pronged investigation of PV connector health across the US (see https://energy.sandia.gov/pvconnectors/). This report presents derivation of a Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) that models failure modes and frequencies (how often failure occurs), estimates O&M costs and lost production associated with connector failures, and then calculates the effect that PV module connectors can have on Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The model is informed with initial data from quantitative assessment of failure rates, root causes and mechanisms, in-situ diagnostics and data collection, lab-based forensics, and interviews with PV connector manufacturers and plant operators. SNL conducted site inspections at multiple utility-scale sites in different climates and subjected field samples of new, used, and degraded connectors to visual and electrical characterization. EPRI conducted metallurgical analysis of the pin and sleeve conductors to study failure-induced morphological and compositional changes. There is in general a shortage of statistically valid data, but data from PVROM database maintained by SNL was sufficient to ascertain failure rates and lost production as well as provide qualitative insight in its curated maintenance records. This report details the structure of the mathematical model but the sources of data to inform the model will continue to evolve. Analysis of a 100 MW PV plant is provided as an example of the use of the model, with results indicating that connectors are responsible for Annualized O&M Costs of $71,933/year; Annualized Unit O&M Costs of $0.72/kW/year; that a Reserve Account of $187,220 should be available to fund repairs related to connectors; that connectors add $1,494,004 to the Net Present Value of the O&M Costs (project life); and that O&M related to connectors adds about $0.00088/kWh to the Levelized Cost of Energy. The impact of this model is to provide a tool to make the US solar sector more robust by quantifying and monetizing the reliability risks to utility-scale PV systems posed by poorly installed, mismatched and/or poorly designed and manufactured connectors. The TEA provides a model incorporating failure statistics, O&M cost data, and lost production into a single figure of merit, informing decisions and enabling practitioners to optimize cost and performance trade-offs. Stakeholders include connector manufacturers, system designers and equipment specifiers, standards bodies, installers and O&M providers, investors and insurance underwriters. This report supports continued growth of PV predicated on assurances that properly installed and maintained PV system connectors are safe and reliable. The project team is proposing future work including accelerated testing of connectors and expanding the approach taken here to other PV system components, such as TEA for rapid shut-down devices.

The monitoring collection system is a system that uses computer, control and other technologies to realize the data storage, collection and monitoring of the field environment. It is widely used in data collection and monitoring in various fields. It often collects data generated by various types of equipment during operation through various sensors and actuators, and these collected data are often the key to analyzing system failures and discovering that equipment is under network attack. In the current environment, attacks occur frequently, and how to protect and utilize these data is very important. Therefore, data security protection system of monitoring and acquisition system Based on blockchain is proposed. Its purpose is to improve data security and better use of data. By combining the blockchain technology, the collected data is stored on the blockchain, and the integrity check mechanism is used to ensure the integrity of the collected data and prevent the data from being tampered with. The association rule base is formed by establishing association rules, and the rule base is used to analyze data, detect data anomalies and feed back the analysis results to the administrator. The data security and system security of the monitoring acquisition system is improved, and the burden of manpower analysis of data is reduced.